Team Texas has arrived and we are pumped to be back with our HATS family. David, Brooks and Julie are no longer the only veterans on the team. Milford and Kyle have returned for the 3rd consecutive year. Either they really love this place or Karen knows some secrets about them. This year, we’re joined by 3 middle school rookies – David’s son John David (aka Ti David), Kyle’s son Brock (Ti Kyle) and Julie’s daughter Mollie (Ti Julie America).
Our day started at 3:30am in Fort Lauderdale (we flew into Florida last night). We arrived at the airport at 4:30, awake and ready for a new adventure. All except for Milford. We’re not sure he was awake, as he entered the women’s restroom to perform his morning business. He had no idea until he finished. We can’t stop laughing about this. We’re assuming there are wanted posters with his likeness hanging up all over the Fort Lauderdale airport. ???
We arrived in Port Au Prince at approximately 7:55am. We got our bags in record time. Milford may be wanted in Florida as the “Airport Peeping Tom,” but in the PAP airport, he is highly respected as our team leader, and our 10 crates and 3 suitcases full of supplies sailed through customs under his watchful eye and intimidating stare. ? We were poised to exit the airport, ready to greet Daniel with a joy filled hug. Except he wasn’t there. Neither was our bus. Apparently there was some sort of “miscommunication” about our pick up time. Our theory is that Karen forgot we were coming. Whatever the case may be, we spent a wonderful 90 minutes in the airport waiting for our ride.
Finally, our ride came. And we miraculously crammed all 10 crates, 3 suitcases, 8 Texans, 1 Daniel, and 1 driver into our 10 passenger van. You know what they say, “When in Haiti…”
It was all worth it when we arrived at our home away from home, and received joy-filled hugs from the kids who are on our minds and in our prayers each and every day. ? We spent the afternoon playing with the kids, getting a list of projects from Keith, and preparing food for the neighbors in need. And of course, we ended our time with the always fun walk down the canal.
After our walk, the 4 men split up and prayed for HATS, because even though we were really tired, we knew what was important in life.
One of the four ‘praying’ ? men
Another one who was startled into an interruption of prayer when the flash went off
Another of those men in prayer
We’re ready for 4 more days of fun, labor, and losing to Moise and JJ in soccer! ⚽️
~Brooks Boyett
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